POWER OF PRAYER by: Rev. Lula A. Baker

 POWER OF PRAYER by: Rev. Lula A. Baker

James 5:17b The effectual fervent prayer of the righteous person avails much!

PRAYER IS COMMUNICATION WITH GOD

WE PRAY TO GOD, BUT IN THE NAME OF OR THROUGH THE ACCESS OF JESUS CHRIST, OUR INTERCESSOR!

There are many different types of prayer:

Adoration, Exaltation, Petition, Supplication, and Thanksgiving, just to suggest a few.

Paul tells us we ought to pray all KINDS of prayers, sing and make melody in our own hearts Colossians 3:16-17

We are to always have an attitude for prayer.

He says in Thessalonians 5:17 to pray without ceasing! Luke 18:1 admonishes us to Pray and not faint! II Chronicles 7:14 tells us that if the people that are called by God's name would humble themselves and pray, seek His face and turn from our wicked ways; he would forgive our sins and heal our land!!

In the scriptures, Moses prays to know how long he has to live (Psalms 90:12). David asks the same in (Psalms 39:4)! Hezekiah prays for an extension of life (Isaiah 38:2-5)! Both Hannah and Zechariah pray for sons! Joshua prays for the Sun to stand still while he fights the Amorites. (Joshua 10:12–13)! David prays a prayer of forgiveness after his sin with Bathsheba (Psalms 51)! Then Jesus prays in Gethsemane for the cup of suffering and separation to pass (Matthew 26:36-44)!

Having set this platform, I want to steer this final observation on the power of prayer to Jesus' example! JESUS PRAYS!!!

The Son of God as our Redeemer, Saviour, and Elder Brother shows us the necessity of praying! Here's what's interesting, He prays about all sorts of things: when he's baptized, feeding multitudes, raising dead men to life, while dying, strength for his disciples, and for US!! Yes, JESUS prayed for you! He petitions His Father on our behalf! In John 17, He solicits God to make us one as He and the Father are already one!! He prayed early in the morning, in the evening, before and after ministry! He prays to stay in fellowship and unity with the will of His Father!

Are you sensing a pattern that we need to emulate? Since Jesus is consistently in commune with God for guidance, wisdom, direction, fortitude, forgiveness, endurance, tenacity, patience, peace, love, joy, faith, and solace; what are we missing not making this vital connection?? Of ALL the mighty and miraculous things Jesus did in the presence, and for the witness of his disciples, the only thing they asked him to teach them was HOW TO PRAY!!!!

The scriptures then testify that He instructs them after this manner pray:

Our Father who art in Heaven

Hallowed be thy name;

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done

On earth, as it is in Heaven.

Give US this day our daily bread.

Forgive US our debts as we forgive our debtors.

Lead us not into temptation,

But deliver us from evil….

So, it would behoove us to follow the edict and example set before us!! God changes us through prayer! We are transformed by the discipline of prayer, equipped for warfare, and empowered as conduits in the earth to get the will of God perfected in the earth!

Come on, LET'S finish this year strong in persistent PRAYER!!!

I don't go a DAY WITHOUT IT!!!